Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada Transcripts

Résolution des questions des pensionnats indiens Canada Transcriptions

Thursday, May 11, 2006 ™ jeudi, 11 mai 2006

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Table of Contents/ Table des matières

COMPENSATION PACKAGE MEANS MORE FUNDING FOR ABORIGINAL HEALING FOUNDATION ...... 3

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS PACKAGE APPROVED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT...... 5

COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR SURVIVORS OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS ...... 6

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS COMPENSATION PACKAGE...... 7

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY APPROVED A DEAL TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS OF ABUSE AT NATIVE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS ...... 8

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS PACKAGE APPROVED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT...... 9

THE FEDERAL CABINET HAS APPROVED A DEAL TO COMPENSATE FORMER STUDENTS OF NATIVE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS...... 10

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A FINAL DEAL TO COMPENSATE FORMER RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS ...... 11

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS PACKAGE APPROVED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT...... 12

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May 10, 2006 APTN: APTN National News Transcript (7:06 p.m.)

Compensation Package Means More Funding for Aboriginal Healing Foundation

Madeleine Allakariallak

Madeleine Allakariallak (Anchor): Today, the much anticipated compensation deal for residential school survivors has been approved by the federal Cabinet. The Aboriginal Healing Foundation helps people cope with the legacy of abuse in residential schools. It funds healing programs such as talking circles and counseling. Mike Degagne is the Executive Director. He says today’s announcement is a step in the right direction.

Mike Degagne (Executive Director, Aboriginal Healing Foundation): It really does mark, historically, a recognition by government and churches that something had to be done. And so, on that basis, we’re very pleased that this package has finally come out. Whether or not survivors will be happy with it completely, I’m not sure. But certainly many of them have been waiting anxiously for these payments and 15 survivors die every week, and the longer we wait and the longer this is delayed, the more impact it’ll have on our community.

Madeleine Allakariallak: The Aboriginal Healing Foundation funds programs for residential school survivors, but healing whole communities take time and money. And the group’s work is winding down because their funding is running out. The $2-billion compensation deal with provide some short-term stability for the Healing Foundation, but as Trina Roach reports, even that falls short.

Trina Roach: The Aboriginal Healing Foundation held the first of six regional meetings in Halifax today. About 40 people came to hear about the Foundation’s final report. Thick volumes, the result of eight years of research. The Healing Foundation was set up in 1998. It was given $350-million to set up programs to address the legacy of abuse in residential schools across Canada. Eight years later, and that money is almost gone. The last program ends next March. Today’s settlement package will change that. The Foundation will receive $125-million. Executive Director Mike Degagne welcomes the money, but says it still does not meet the need.

Mike Degage: Just as they are finishing and just as we are winding down finally, a new healing package will come out of this final settlement agreement that will give us another three years of life and give our projects another three years of life. But I think the point that we’ve been trying to make is that, based on the literature that we’re reviewed, at least ten years of work is required in the community to make lasting healing impacts.

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Trina Roach: Viola Robinson sits on the Board of Directors. She says from the initial $35-million, the current compensation deal, the government has not done enough.

Viola Robinson (Aboriginal Healing Foundation): No, not by the reaction and sentiments that have been expressed by t he survivors themselves, certainly not. I mean, we have had to turn down many, many applications. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. The work has really just begun.

Trina Roach: There are 86,000 residential school survivors alive today, but the ripple effect of the abuse reaches almost 400,000 Aboriginal people across Canada. Rhonda Claes is with the Native Council of Nova Scotia, and works with survivors and their families. She says what ’s really needed is education.

Rhonda Claes (Native Council of Nova Scotia): Until the problem is understood, how Native people were subject to genocide, and how they’re trying to rebuild now, until that’s fully understood by all , I mean Native people are painfully aware, but until it’s understood by all Canadians, then I really don’t see any measurable healing occurring.

Trina Roach: The Aboriginal Healing Foundation will meet again in Quebec at the end of May.

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May 10, 2006 CBC-TV National: The National Transcript (22:04)

Residential schools package approved by federal government

Peter Mansbridge

Peter Mansbridge (anchor): Native residential schools, three words that present horrifying images of abuse. Tonight, native leaders say they can finally put the past to rest with a historic compensation package announced today in the House of Commons. is setting aside nearly $2 billion for former students, many who say they were sexually or physically abused.

Jim Prentice (Minister of Indian Affairs): We hope that this settlement agreement with bring closure to this unfortunate chapter in our history and help us to move forward in a new spirit of partnership with aboriginal Canadians.

Mansbridge: About 90,000 former residential school students will receive 10,000 each; those older than 65 can apply for the money the money fast-tracked. Here’s Grand Chief Phil Fontaine’s reaction to the deal.

Grand Chief Phil Fontaine (Assembly of First Nations): Well, I’m extremely happy, of course; it’s a moment for Canada. In our view, Canada has come of age because it - through this agreement, it recognizes the worst human rights violation in the history of this country.

Mansbridge: The agreement still has to be approved by courts in each province.

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May 10, 2006 Newsworld: Politics with Don Newman Transcript (17:08)

Compensation Package for Survivors of Residential Schools

Don Newman

Don Newman (Anchor): After years of negotiation between the federal government, Aboriginal leaders, and the major mainline churches, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice today announced an agreement to compensate students sent to residential schools who claim they suffered abuse while there.

Jim Prentice (Indian Affairs Minister): The government recognizes, Mr. Speaker, the sad legacy of Indian residential schools. We hope that this settlement agreement will bring closure to this unfortunate chapter in our history, and help us to move forward in a new spirit of partnership with Aboriginal Canadians. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tina Keeper (Liberal Indian and Northern Affairs Critic): Working cooperatively towards the well being of the First Nations, the Métis Nation and the was a high priority of the previous Liberal government. It has remained a prime concern for the opposition from the very beginning of this new Parliament. So, we are pleased to see that the current government has endorsed the agreement in principle signed in November 2005 by the then Liberal government, the Assembly of First Nations, and church leaders.

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May 10, 2006 APTN: APTN National News Transcript (7:02 p.m.) Residential Schools Compensation Package

Madeleine Allakariallak

Madeleine Allakariallak (Anchor): Residential school survivors over the age of 65 can start applying for their compensations. Today, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice announce the much anticipated compensation deal has been approved by the federal Cabinet. It now moves to the final step, approval by courts hearing class-action lawsuits. But in the meantime, survivors 65 or older will be getting an advance payment of $8,000.

Jim Prentice (Indian Affairs Minister): The government recognizes that many former students are aging and that these funds must be made available to them as soon as possible. Eligible former students may apply for this advance payment of $8,000 by completing the necessary application forms, which are available today, Mr. Speaker. We hope that this settlement agreement will bring closure to this unfortunate chapter in our history, and help us to move forward in a new spirit of partnership with Aboriginal Canadians. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Madeleine Allakariallak: Application forms for the advance payments are available at the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada website, and that website is www.irsr-rqpi.gc.ca or you can call them at 1-800-816-7293. Payments for survivors under 65 won’t be made until court approval of the deal and that’s expected by the end of this year.

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May 10, 2006 CBC Newsworld: News Update Transcript (16:03)

The federal government has finally approved a deal to compensate victims of abuse at Native Residential Schools

Sarika Sehgal

Sarika Sehgal: The federal government has finally approved a deal to compensate victims of abuse at Native Residential Schools. It’s worth more than $2 billion and more than 78,000 students will benefit. They’ll be offered $10,000 plus another $3000 for each year spent in the schools.

Jim Prentice (Minister of Indian Affairs): The Honourable Frank Iacobucci, the government’s representative has very faithfully led these intense and complex negotiations with legal representatives, Mr. Speaker, including former students, Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian Churches, and the Assembly of First Nations and other Aboriginal organizations. I think that it’s important that the record of Canada to note that Grand Chief Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations deserves special recognition in this regard.

Sarika Sehgal: The first payments are expected early next year.

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May 10, 2006 CJCI The Wolf: News Transcript (13:00)

Residential schools package approved by federal government

Eryn Collins

Eryn Collins: The federal cabinet has approved a final deal worth more than two billion dollars to compensate former students of native residential schools. Courts in several provinces most now approve the agreement. The deal offers about 78,000 eligible former students $10,000, plus $3,000 for each year spent in the school. The payments are not expected before early next year, but Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentiss has been pressured by native leaders and the opposition to fast-track cheques to the sick and the elderly.

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May 10, 2006 CBC Radio One: The World at Six Transcript

The Federal Cabinet has Approved a Deal to Compensate Former Students of Native Residential Schools

Bernie McNamee

Bernie McNamee: The Federal cabinet has approved a deal to compensate former students of Native Residential Schools. The deal offers about 78,000 former students a lump sum of $10,000 each plus $3000 for each year spent in the schools. The payments are not expected before early next year. During the first half of the 1900s many First Nations children were forced into residential schools run by the government and church groups. They were forbidden to use their Native languages and many were sexually abused. It wasn’t until 1998 that Ottawa acknowledged the widespread abuse suffered by children. The agreement announced today must still be approved by the courts in several provinces.

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May 10, 2006 CBC Sudbury: Points North Transcript (17:34)

The federal government has approved a final deal to compensate former Residential School Students

Kate Rutherford

Kate Rutherford: The Federal government will expedite payments of $8,000 to Residential School survivors who are older than 65. The Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice made the announcement in Ottawa today, along with Bev Oda, the Minister responsible for Residential School Solutions. The government even has set up a website where former students can apply for the advancements online. The $8000 payment will be deducted from each former student’s total compensation. That consists of a lump sum of $10,000 each plus $3,000 for each year spent in a residential school.

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May 10, 2006 CKDV The Drive: News Transcript (13:00)

Residential schools package approved by federal government

Don Hawkins

Don Hawkins: The federal cabinet has approved a final deal worth more than two billion dollars to compensate former students of native residential schools. Courts in several provinces must now approve the agreement. The deal offers about 78,000 former students $10,000, plus $3,000 for each year spent in the schools. The payments are not expected before early next year.

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